Kids music news and reviews for librarians, teachers and parents.

Tag: Mister G

Latin GRAMMY winner Mister G brings his unique blend of musical genres, languages, and education to The Mitzvah Bus. Originally released in 2015, this high energy, Jewish-themed celebration is definitely worth a second (or if you’re like me, a first!) look.

Mister G’s trademark clever lyrics are evident from the very first song, “Challah-lalala” and continue through a menu of delicious foods in the songs “Latkes for Breakfast” and “Matzah on my Mind.” The education continues with the funk-filled “Flood’s Gonna Come,” a retelling of the story of Noah and the Ark, “Purim Party Song” and the ska-inspired “Hanukkah,” which delve into the history and traditions of the holidays. The title song, “Mitzvah Bus” tells a tale of good deeds and helping others while “Bevakasha” places emphasis on the power of the word “please.”

One of Mister G’s unique strengths is his ability to weave different languages together into a seamless, beautiful song. On The Mitzvah Bus, he combines not two, but three languages (in this case English, Spanish, and Hebrew) into lyrics that tell of a dance-party filled with friends in “Hola Shalom” and the glorious wonders of nature in the beautiful “Naturaleza.” In Mister G’s hands, the flow from language to language is seamless making each song a lyrical masterpiece.

Surrounded by a group of talented musicians, Mister G and his acoustic guitar breathe an unusual blend of funk, jazz, rock and world music into the album. While many of the songs on this album can’t be used in library programming, the songs about food could easily be used in programs about family traditions. The Mitzvah Bus would be a great addition not only to collections where Jewish-themed music is in demand, but also in collections where world music and family traditions are emphasized. In order for us to gain a better understanding of one another, it’s important to learn from each other and The Mitzvah Bus is a great place to start!

Mister G won the 2015 Best Children’s Album Latin GRAMMY for Los Animales and his latest album Mundo Verde/Green World should land him on the short list of nominees once again. From the first notes of the title track to the last dulcet tones of this almost 30-minute journey, the over-arching theme of protecting all the wonders of our Earth is lovingly explored.

The first few songs of the album are filled with fast-paced Latin beats that will get listeners up and dancing while also talking about important issues such as the water that our planet is made of, recycling and the wide variety of animals who deserve our protection and concern. The music – featuring such performers as Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco, Peruvian bassist Oscar Stagnaro, Brazilian vocalist Mari Nobre and Cuban vocalist Estrella Acosta – goes full tilt with songs such as “Patas en el Aire/Paws in the Air” and “El Coqui/The Frog,” then strikes a quieter note with songs like “Cuantos Peces/How Many Fish,” the Carlos Santana inspired “Si Se Puede/Yes We Can,” and the lush instrumentation and vocals of “Las Estrellas.”

Mundo Verde/Green World is a bilingual album from start to finish. Mister G and his many guests seamlessly transition between Spanish and English both during the interludes between the songs as well as within the songs themselves. Enough of each language is spoken or sung so that no matter the native tongue of the listeners, they will still get the gist of the lyrics and enjoy each tune. This album could easily be used in the classroom, in storytimes or for family listening. Pure joy from beginning to end!